Latest Car Extreme

Following the reveal of its Opel counterpart in mainland Europe, Vauxhall has released pricing and specifications on the UK market Antara facelift, which boasts a barely noticeable makeover and a refreshed engine lineup. Prices for the updated SUV now start from £19,995 for the 2.2 CDTi (163PS) Exclusiv front-wheel drive model, which according to Vauxhall, represents a saving of £2,835 over the outgoing base version.

On the outside, styling changes for the 2011 Antara include the updated front grille with the new Griffin logo, enhanced by fog lights finished with chrome bezels on SE models, new 19-inch alloy wheels and modified rear lights.

Inside, the new Antara's cabin features a revised centre console with extra storage and higher-quality materials, in addition to improved instrument graphics and better interior lighting.

The 2011 model's revised Euro-5 compliant engine line-up includes a newly-developed 2.2-liter CDTI turbodiesel in two states of tune with 163HP or 184HP. The 163HP version is available in front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual transmission only or all-wheel drive hooked up to either a manual or six-speed auto gearbox. The more potent 184HP variant also offers a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, and comes with all-wheel drive as standard. All transmissions have been revised to improve efficiency.

The Vauxhall Antara will not be offered in the UK with the revised 170HP 2.4-liter gasoline engine of its Opel sibling.

GM Europe's engineers have also re-worked the SUV's chassis with revised spring and damper settings.

Finally, Vauxhall has improved safety and comfort features with the addition of an electric parking brake, a Hill Assist System as well as a "shift-up" fuel economy indicator on all models.

"At less than £20k, the new Antara is set to be highly competitive in today's SUV market," said Peter Hope, Vauxhall's Marketing Director. "Its lower emissions, higher output diesel engines and refreshed design will offer renewed appeal to both retail and fleet customers."

With Citroen, Peugeot RC HYmotion4 is a field that is increasingly cluttered with hybrid concepts using a new system that can take the road to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Fortunately for Peugeot, they have managed not just recycle or rebadge an existing model, but have incorporated this technology into an boldly attractive four door GT coupe.

Peugeot has joined sister-brand Citroen by releasing a concept vehicle based on the new HYmotion4 AWD hybrid system. The new concept is according to Peugeot, a ‘Touring Car Coupe’ that features a number of engineering and technological ideas expected to make their way, if only gradually, into both of the carmaker’s future production models. Unlike the hybrid systems used by current production vehicles, this concept has no direct mechanical connection between the electric and internal combustion drive systems. This way, the RC can operate in either rear, front, or all-wheel-drive modes. That means it can also operate using internal combustion, electric only or blended mode combining both. Propelling this concept is a rear mounted turbocharged 1.6 liter engine driving the rear wheels and producing 218 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Up front, an electric motor provides up to another 132 lb-ft of torque and provides a governed combined production of 313 horsepower. This sort of power pays of with acceleration to 62 mph in a mere 4.4 seconds. The electrons are stored in a lithium-ion battery pack of an as unreleased size, but having the electric motor at the front instead of the rear axle means that more kinetic energy can be recaptured through the regenerative braking process. According to Peugeot, the RC can get 52.3 mpg with a minimum output of just 109 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Other Hymotion4 concepts in the mix for the future include Peugeot’s Prologue, which previews an upcoming 3008 crossover, as well as the Citroen Hypnos and C4 WRC rally car. These concepts, according to the manufacturer, are a synthesis of ideas that demonstrate a commitment to both respecting the environment and driving pleasure. If all of the technology that is used within this concept lives up to the manufacturer claims, the French may have the inside track in future hybrid production.

Luxurious cars concepts and designs modeled by some of the top automobile companies such as Audi, Mazda, Peugeot, Toyota etc.

Audi Locus
Audi Locus designed by Ugur Sahin is a concept car envisioned to have a curvy structure and the main characteristics of the design are the way its surface shapes are formed with a continuous flow from front until the back of the car.

Peugeot e-Motion
Peugeot e-Motion is an electric-powered sportscar with a design characterized by the combination of concave and convex surfaces. The dynamic look is enhanced in the sideview by a sharp crease line which flows from the headlights, into the doors and continues with the rear lights.

Lamborghini Concept S
Lamborghini Concept S is a concept car designed by Luc Donckerwolke, the head of Lamborghini design, using the Lamborghini Gallardo’s floorplan. Shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It was intended to be a modern interpretation of the single-seat roadsters of the past.

Mazda Taiki
Mazda Taiki was revealed at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in October 2007 and basically sets a new ideal for the front-engine rear-drive sports car of the future and continues the evolution of the Nagare design theme, following in the footsteps of the Mazda Nagare, Mazda Ryuga, and Mazda Hakaze concept vehicles.

BMW ZX-6
BMW ZX-6 concept is one of the final projects of the Transportation Design students at Turin-based IED (Instituto Europeo di Design), which was developed in partnership with BMW with the goal of creating a car for 2015.

Toyota 4WingX
Toyota 4WingX was one of the ten design proposals idealized and presented by students of the Transportation Design Course of IED Turin which makes use of the same hybrid power technology found in the Toyota Prius but provides a unique style and shape.

Mazda Nagare
Mazda Nagare concept was revealed at this year’s Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show and is the first of a series of design concepts that Mazda will showcase this global auto show season, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo.

Audi O
Audi O concept was designed by Ondrej Jirec, a design student from the Czech Republic who is beginning studies at the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California in 2008. It was designed to fuse a powerful and innovative audio system with a stylish and sporty four-seat hatchback.

BMW Snug
Snug is a concept which aims to create a sense of community: a simple, fun object, designed for people who appreciate personal relationships, people who are different from the others, in their opinions and in their feelings.

Lexus LF-A RoadsterThe LF-A is a 2-door exotic concept car built as a prospective halo car for the Lexus division. Integrating the simple elegance of the new Lexus design initiative with racing–inspired style, sculpted curves and fluid lines make a dynamic statement.

A collection of 10 very cool concept cars from the past few years unveiled at motor shows around the world.

The Mazda Taiki
First unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo motor show and featured an incredible sweeping design which seemed to have been inspired by pictures of flying saucers.
The car, which Mazda said it wanted to put into production, would have featured a rotary engine based on that which powers the company's RX8.
Picture by Kevin.Ward


The Ford Bronco

The Ford Bronco concept was unveiled in 2004. It was reminiscent of the original Ford Bronco include the boxy, upright roofline, short wheelbase, round headlamps and the Bronco nameplate milled into the modern three-bar grille.


A winch and guide rollers were integrated into the lower fascia. Exterior details include exposed door hinges, cowl vents and flared wheel wells. Unique loop-shaped door handles are integrated into the door panels and open with a tug. Given the collapse in demand for SUVs in the United States, it is doubtful that this concept will ever make it into production.
Picture by the Ford Motor Company

Land Rover LRX
The Land Rover LRX concept is one of the most talked about pre production vehicles of recent years.


Featuring a diesel hybrid engine capable of more than 50mpg and striking design for an SUV, Land Rover is said to be seriously considering putting the vehicle into production.
Picture by Jaguar Land Rover


Audi Locus Concept

The Audi Locus Concept is a sporty coupe which adopts an organic design language made of flowing curves.

It was created by Turkish designer Ugur Sahin who also worked on the Lamborghini Spiga concept.
Picture by Ugur Sahin

Honda PUYO
First shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

The Honda PUYO was designed to convey a warm, friendly impression and bring together 'clean', 'safe' and 'fun' functionality in an environmentally responsible, people-friendly minimalist design featuring an ultra-high efficiency, small frame and fuel cell technology. The car would be operated with a joystick.
Picture by Honda

Aston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda concept was revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show and is a very different vehicle from the last vehicle to carry the Lagonda name.


Powered by a V12 engine, the car would mark the return of Aston Martin to the luxury saloon market.
Picture by Aston Martin Lagonda



Fiat FCC Adventure

The Fiat FCC Adventure concept was designed and built by Fiat’s South American division.


The coupe crossover is based on the small Stilo Abarth hatchback. Despite the high ground clearance, the FCC isn't a genuine off-roader as it only drives the front wheels
Picture by Fiat

The Ford Airstream concept displayed at the 2007 North American International Auto Show was a crossover influenced by Airstream's iconic trailer design and the optimism for the future that Stanley Kubrick captured in 2001: A Space Odyssey.


The whole idea behind the Ford Airstream concept was to create a vehicle for adventures, touring and traveling long distances in a unique design. It would have been powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Picture by Rockershirt

Giugiaro Vadho
The Giugiaro Vadho concept was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.


It is a V12 hydrogen fueled concept car whihc is built on a one-off chassis, and is controled by two joysticks, not a steering wheel. Both the V12 hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine and seven-speed SMG gearbox come from BMW.
Picture by Italdesign

Honda Zeppelin

The Honda Zeppelin was a design created by Myung Jin Jung, a student of Hongik University's car design course.

The Zeppelin was created for his final year thesis - for 2008 the brief was to design a luxurious sedan for the future. It was partially inspired, as the name suggests, by airships.
Picture by Myung Jin Jung

Citroen are rarely associated with cool cars but looking at these new concept car pictures, things might be about to change.

Check out these pictures of this super cool Citroen GT concept car!




















Citroen GT Concept Car Video - driving around London